Softball pro defeats major leaguers in home run derby

Scott Kirby won the SportsVolusia.com Home Run Derby Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Kirby hit five home runs to Chris Gatewood's three in the championship round.

BRIAN LINDER STAFF WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH -- Major League Baseball players may have been the headliners in the SportsVolusia.com Home Run Derby Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, but a pair of free-swinging softball veterans stole the show. Scott Kirby out-blasted Chris Gatewood 5-3 in the final round to win the event's title. Over three rounds, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Kirby, who said he is a contract player for Easton, belted 17 home runs. Gatewood, a big, 6-foot-3, 295-pound slugger, also hit 17 home runs in the event – only coming up short in the final round. “This was awesome,” Kirby said. “It was a lot of fun.” While Gatewood might not have taken home the title, his towering shots – he hit several that seemed to still be rising as they cruised over the lights and out of the park – may have been the night's highlight.“He was bombing them,” Kirby said. “Anybody that did not get to watch this missed Chris putting on a show.”Count St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina as one who was impressed. “It was amazing to see the ball flying that far,” Molina said. “It was unbelievable to see how they could do that.”Molina was the only major leaguer to advance past the event's first round. He hit two home runs in that round, but managed just one in the second round. His brothers – Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina and retired major league catcher Bengie Molina – did not fare as well. Bengie hit one home run in the first round while Jose went homerless. Fellow St. Louis Cardinals catcher Tony Cruz also went homerless in the first round. Meanwhile, Kirby blasted eight home runs in the opening round and Gatewood managed seven. Local competitor Gary Malphurs managed two home runs in the first round. Gatewood led the way in the second round with seven home runs while Kirby hit four as the pair advanced to the final round. “We just had a lot of fun,” Gatewood said. “Any time we can come out and hit a lot of balls really hard … you can't complain about that.“And this was awesome. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be next to the Molina brothers and be able to grace the same field as these guys. These are guys that make millions, and I'm just a guy that runs a hotel in St. Augustine.”Much of the group is slated to return to the Jack today. At 1 p.m., Giles Electric and 7th Inning Villains are scheduled to play in the title game of the Hilton Brawl at the Beach softball tournament. The winning team will move on to play the Molina's team – partly comprised of current and former major leaguers – at 3 p.m. Proceeds from Friday night's event and Saturday's softball games will go to Yadier Molina's charitable Foundation 4.